Skinny
10-16-2007, 09:13 PM
Pressure poll: Ranking the NFL's top coaches
The Sporting News
October 16, 2007
Every NFL head coach walks a tightrope, one key injury or losing streak away from crisis.
Even the best get fired, all of them are regularly second-guessed and none can ever escape the spotlight. Sometimes they do strange things. Already this season we've seen Bill Belichick's version of Candid Camera and Eric Mangini in the role of undercover informant. We've seen formerly hot coaches such as Sean Payton of the Saints cool off, replaced by such new hot guys as Mike Tomlin of the Steelers. Fortunes change quickly, competition is ferocious and parity makes it hard for coaches to maintain their sanity.
Coaching in the NFL can make a tough guy such as Nick Saban run back to college, a fiery guy such as Bill Cowher take a break and a successful guy such as Bill Parcells walk away. There's a fine line between the red zone and the pink slip, but that pressure is part of what makes the job so intoxicating to those highstrung guys wearing the headsets on the sideline.
Almost any NFL owner will tell you his most important decision is to name the right head coach. That person is usually the face of the franchise, he deals with the media more than anybody else and he makes split-second decisions every game that can determine the difference between winning and losing. Picking the right coach can set up your franchise for quick success. Picking the wrong one will doom your team to failure and leave you searching for another coach to put on the hot seat.
We've ranked the current 32 head coaches after considering a combination of criteria, including what they've done, how they're doing and how we think they'll do in the future. Read it, enjoy it, argue about it and remember this: It's hard for any coach just to make this list. And it's even harder to stay on it.
1. Bill Belichick, Patriots. His spy techniques need work, but his three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots speak for themselves.
2. Tony Dungy, Colts. He is consistent, confident and unflappable, and he demands excellence without demeaning his players.
3. Mike Shanahan, Broncos. His resume shows one losing season in the past 12 years, but after an ugly home loss two weeks ago, we'll see if he still has it.
4. Mike Holmgren, Seahawks. An excellent teacher and a creative offensive mind, he has built solid programs with two franchises.
5. Jeff Fisher, Titans. His teams never underachieve, and with Vince Young the Titans' future is in good hands.
6. Joe Gibbs, Redskins. He's proving he's still a winner. Even more impressive, he's one of the few coaches who can deal with Daniel Snyder.
7. Lovie Smith, Bears. The Bears stunk before he arrived. He needs a quarterback, but it's hard to find a better defensive coach.
8. Andy Reid, Eagles. A struggling team and family issues present tough challenges, but he is a strong leader who never panics.
9. Wade Phillips, Cowboys. Finally coaching a team with serious talent, he might lead Dallas to the Super Bowl.
10. Mike Tomlin, Steelers. The Steelers know how to pick coaches. Already impressing players and peers, Tomlin has a bright future.
Coaches on the hot seat
1. Scott Linehan, Rams
2. Brad Childress, Vikings
3. Norv Turner, Chargers
4. Tom Coughlin, Giants
5. Marvin Lewis, Bengals
Best and mosts
Best on game day: Bill Belichick, Patriots
Best at halftime adjustments: Tony Dungy, Colts
Best with the media: Herm Edwards, Chiefs
Best with the fans: Sean Payton, Saints
Best dresser: Mike Nolan, 49ers
Best facial expressions: Jon Gruden, Bucs
Best houseguest: Romeo Crennel, Browns
Best friends: Lovie Smith, Bears, Edwards, Dungy
Most overrated: Marvin Lewis, Bengals
Most underrated: Jeff Fisher, Titans
All 32 coaches listed
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=290564
The Sporting News
October 16, 2007
Every NFL head coach walks a tightrope, one key injury or losing streak away from crisis.
Even the best get fired, all of them are regularly second-guessed and none can ever escape the spotlight. Sometimes they do strange things. Already this season we've seen Bill Belichick's version of Candid Camera and Eric Mangini in the role of undercover informant. We've seen formerly hot coaches such as Sean Payton of the Saints cool off, replaced by such new hot guys as Mike Tomlin of the Steelers. Fortunes change quickly, competition is ferocious and parity makes it hard for coaches to maintain their sanity.
Coaching in the NFL can make a tough guy such as Nick Saban run back to college, a fiery guy such as Bill Cowher take a break and a successful guy such as Bill Parcells walk away. There's a fine line between the red zone and the pink slip, but that pressure is part of what makes the job so intoxicating to those highstrung guys wearing the headsets on the sideline.
Almost any NFL owner will tell you his most important decision is to name the right head coach. That person is usually the face of the franchise, he deals with the media more than anybody else and he makes split-second decisions every game that can determine the difference between winning and losing. Picking the right coach can set up your franchise for quick success. Picking the wrong one will doom your team to failure and leave you searching for another coach to put on the hot seat.
We've ranked the current 32 head coaches after considering a combination of criteria, including what they've done, how they're doing and how we think they'll do in the future. Read it, enjoy it, argue about it and remember this: It's hard for any coach just to make this list. And it's even harder to stay on it.
1. Bill Belichick, Patriots. His spy techniques need work, but his three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots speak for themselves.
2. Tony Dungy, Colts. He is consistent, confident and unflappable, and he demands excellence without demeaning his players.
3. Mike Shanahan, Broncos. His resume shows one losing season in the past 12 years, but after an ugly home loss two weeks ago, we'll see if he still has it.
4. Mike Holmgren, Seahawks. An excellent teacher and a creative offensive mind, he has built solid programs with two franchises.
5. Jeff Fisher, Titans. His teams never underachieve, and with Vince Young the Titans' future is in good hands.
6. Joe Gibbs, Redskins. He's proving he's still a winner. Even more impressive, he's one of the few coaches who can deal with Daniel Snyder.
7. Lovie Smith, Bears. The Bears stunk before he arrived. He needs a quarterback, but it's hard to find a better defensive coach.
8. Andy Reid, Eagles. A struggling team and family issues present tough challenges, but he is a strong leader who never panics.
9. Wade Phillips, Cowboys. Finally coaching a team with serious talent, he might lead Dallas to the Super Bowl.
10. Mike Tomlin, Steelers. The Steelers know how to pick coaches. Already impressing players and peers, Tomlin has a bright future.
Coaches on the hot seat
1. Scott Linehan, Rams
2. Brad Childress, Vikings
3. Norv Turner, Chargers
4. Tom Coughlin, Giants
5. Marvin Lewis, Bengals
Best and mosts
Best on game day: Bill Belichick, Patriots
Best at halftime adjustments: Tony Dungy, Colts
Best with the media: Herm Edwards, Chiefs
Best with the fans: Sean Payton, Saints
Best dresser: Mike Nolan, 49ers
Best facial expressions: Jon Gruden, Bucs
Best houseguest: Romeo Crennel, Browns
Best friends: Lovie Smith, Bears, Edwards, Dungy
Most overrated: Marvin Lewis, Bengals
Most underrated: Jeff Fisher, Titans
All 32 coaches listed
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=290564